Facts about the flu and flu vaccination
1. Over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of
flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about
3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. Source
2. 90% of flu related deaths occur in people 65 years and older.
3. The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early
as October and last as late as May.
4. Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are
hospitalized because of influenza complications.
5. For the 2013-2014 flu season, manufacturers will produce 135-139
million doses of flu vaccine to be distributed across the country. Source
6. Only the U.S. and Canada actually encourage everyone older than 6
months to get the flu vaccine. Source
7. The first influenza pandemic was recorded in 1580.
8. Worst flu pandemic ever? The 1918 flu pandemic killed between 30-50
million people across the world. Source
9. In the 1940s, the US military developed the first approved
inactivated vaccines for influenza, and the first human flu
vaccinations were tested.
10. In 1946 it was discovered that influenza strains change annually.
Source